Identity and Access Management (IAM)

What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

Identity and Access Management (IAM) covers the processes and technologies companies use to manage digital identities and control who may access which systems and data.

What are the building blocks of IAM?

• Authentication (e.g. MFA, SSO)
• Authorisation and rights assignment (e.g. RBAC)
• Managing identities across their entire lifecycle
• Logging and traceability (audit log)

Why does IAM matter?

Compromised identities are a primary attack path. IAM ensures only authorised people gain access, reduces the attack surface and is a core building block for Zero Trust and compliance requirements such as NIS2.

How SecureCloud supports IAM

With Advanced Access Management, SecureCloud brings authentication and rights assignment together at a central control point: strong authentication (MFA, SSO via open standards), granular role-based rights and a complete audit log, hosted in Germany.

What is the difference between authentication and authorisation?

Authentication verifies who someone is (e.g. via password and MFA). Authorisation defines what that person may access. IAM combines both.

What belongs to an IAM solution?

Typically single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, role-based rights assignment, identity management and an audit log.

How does IAM relate to Zero Trust?

Zero Trust requires every request to be verified. IAM provides the basis by authenticating identities securely and controlling access granularly.